Priest uses Legos to build Vatican replica

Lego Vatican

His architectural feat includes a Lego pope on a balcony overlooking the crowd in St. Peter's Square, which itself is made up of about 44,000 Lego pieces resembling cobblestones.

In this Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 photo, Simon poses for a photograph with his Lego representation of the St. Peter's basilica and square, at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

Credit: Matt Rourke/AP

Lego Vatican

In this Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 photo, shown a Lego pope figure on a balcony overlooking the crowd in the piazza in a Lego representation of the St. Peter's basilica and square.

"I think there's about half a million pieces in it," Simon explained to CBS Philly. "I'm not sure. I think there are about 44,000 cobblestones of the square, 6,000 round bricks that make up the colonnade and under the little cobblestones, there's 12,000 2×2 tiles that are under there. I knew if I was going to build the Vatican, it had to be big!"

Credit: Matt Rourke/AP

Lego Vatican

He said he fell in love with Legos as a little boy, and even attempted to build the Vatican out of them in 7th grade. It ended up being pretty simple back then he says, but there is no doubt this most recent work is anything but simple.

Credit: CBS PHILLY

Lego Vatican

In this Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 photo, shown is a Lego representation of the St. Peter's basilica and square, at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

A few years ago, Simon attended an adult Lego convention. He tells CBS Radio affiliate KYW that's when the idea was sparked once again.

Credit: Matt Rourke/AP

Lego Vatican

In this Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 photo, the Rev. Bob Simon speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

Today, Simon serves as pastor at St. Catherine of Siena church in Moscow, Pennsylvania, about 100 miles north of Philadelphia. He's been to the real Vatican five times.

Credit: Matt Rourke/AP

Lego Vatican

In this Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 photo, shown are figurines in a Lego representation of the St. Peter's basilica and square, at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

A colorful cast of Lego characters populates the piazza, including a nun with a selfie stick and a bespectacled figurine of Simon. All told, the display measures 14 feet by 6 feet and weighs about 100 pounds.

Credit: Matt Rourke/AP

Lego Vatican

In this Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 photo, shown a Lego pope figure on a balcony overlooking the crowd in the piazza in a Lego representation of the St. Peter's basilica and square, at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

"It's amazing," said Larry Dubinski, president and CEO of The Franklin Institute, where the plastic brick structure is now on view in downtown Philadelphia. "People are in awe."

Credit: Matt Rourke/AP

Lego Vatican

In this Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 photo, shown are figurines in a Lego representation of the St. Peter's basilica and square, at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

Simon started the project a year ago in an empty room in his rectory. He finished in time to bring it to BrickFair, a Lego convention held over the summer near Washington, D.C., where it received many accolades. A friend then suggested The Franklin Institute might be interested.

Credit: Matt Rourke/AP

Lego Vatican

In this Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 photo, shown are figurines in a Lego representation of the St. Peter's basilica and square, at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

Using Lego life preservers to replicate the dome's windows - one of many ways he repurposed various shapes - Simon delicately built the structure without glue.

"It was daunting," he said. "It was an exercise in patience, and I was thrilled with the way everything came out."

Credit: Matt Rourke/AP

Lego Vatican

In this Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 photo, shown are figurines including one designed to look like the Rev. Bob Simon in a Lego representation of the St. Peter's basilica and square, at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

To create the model, Simon used an image from a book cover as a guide. The hardest part was creating the round basilica dome from square bricks, he said. Although he looked for hints by watching YouTube videos, "I hardly understood what I was watching."

Credit: Matt Rourke/AP

Lego Vatican

In this Friday, Sept. 11, 2015 photo, visitors view a Lego representation of the St. Peter's basilica and square, at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

There are no plans for Pope Francis to see the Lego Vatican while he's in Philadelphia next weekend. But Simon hopes to see the pontiff: He will participate in the papal Mass on Sept. 27.